Huangshan's New Year gathering fosters cross-cultural friendship
Guests from home and abroad showcase their Spring Festival couplets. [Photo/WeChat account: HuangshanFAPO]
On Jan 24, the "Together in Huangshan, Greet the New Year" international fellowship event kicked off in Nanxi'nan village, Tunxi district.
This brought together a buzzing crowd of international friends who live, study and work in Huangshan and saw them mingle with local foreign affairs professionals, volunteers, and community representatives to share their culture and strengthen bonds.
The event featured cultural experience booths such as "tea aroma", "Huizhou cuisine" and "ink and books", allowing attendees to immerse themselves in local culinary traditions, the wellness wisdom of Xin'an traditional Chinese medicine, and intangible cultural heritage.
During the sharing sessions, Elijah Daniel Boles, a foreign teacher at Xiuning Middle School, recounted his teaching experiences here, highlighting his role as a bridge for cultural exchange between China and his home country, the United States.
A panel titled "Dialogue with the World: I am a Huangshan Experience Officer" featured guests including the owner of a Colombian dessert and a Western restaurant as well as Armin Schober, who owns and runs the Alina Garden Homestay, as well as a foreign student who introduced himself as Songram. They shared their connections to Huangshan, describing it with keywords like "inclusive", "warm" and "vibrant".
The event seamlessly blended New Year blessings with the cultural heritage of Huizhou. Students from Xiuning Middle School performed an English musical; while Zayra, a young foreign participant, sang the Chinese song Daylily Flower. Through these artistic acts, the event transcended language barriers and conveyed shared emotions and good wishes.
International guests were engaged in cultural experiences that highlighted the charm of Huangshan and Chinese New Year traditions. This initiative not only promotes Huizhou culture globally but also enhances Tunxi's international appeal, injecting fresh vitality into its inbound tourism market.
